Meet Rapheal Crump: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rapheal Crump and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rapheal, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I always think back to my earlier years as a child. I would spend my free time drawing while waiting for my mother to finish work. One day a client of hers came in and saw one of my drawings, the lady liked it so much she offered me money for it. At the early age of 5 I was bitten by the entrepreneur bug. Since then I have always made a living off of my artwork. Every job or opportunity that I have had was based on being creative or in the creative field. Being creative is a passion and a love of mine, It is something I do daily, I practice my skillset, I study, I engulf my life in the arts. I truly love it and being able to make a living doing what I love gives me fulfillment at the end of the day. The fact that my work touches and connects to people is what keeps me going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is a reflection of my past experiences, journies, and memories. Those three are a form of nostalgia for me, but I have found that my paintings connect with the viewer and their own memories, experiences, and journies in life. That connection of people and my work is what keeps me going. My journey to professionalism was years in the making. Lots of failures and losses in business and attempts in the arts. From opening a custom clothing boutique, to working in the graphic design and marketing media field, I have taken all of those experiences and applied them to how I operate my business today. A major developmental experience was working at an art gallery, and taking mentorship by an already established artist and learning what it takes to navigate the art market. My brand developed when I realized that I wanted to tell people about my journey through life. How would I do that, the freeze-frame memories in my mind translated to canvas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would first start off with my favorite brunch breakfast spots, then to the design district to visit some of the higher-end art galleries down there. I would take them to the DMA art museum and then over to bishop arts for the culture and view of Dallas. If they want to see another side of Texas, I would show them the stockyards and museums over in Fort Worth. to end the night, a nice hang out in Deep Ellum for a cold brew and some live music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have numerous people that have been supportive of my career and development as an artist. I have tutors, mentors, teachers, friends, advisors, and family that have helped me to get to this point in my career. My highschool teacher Mr. Bernard Boffi helped push me to go to college and attend the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. He even fought to get me in, after I was denied the first time. A business partner who taught me the hustle of creating and selling clothing, teamed up with me to open a clothing store at the age of 19 is someone I call my big brother Ty Postell. He saw my hustle and drive early and joined forces with me to open a successful 6-year custom clothing boutique in Passaic NJ. After college, I landed my first major graphic design job at a News Media company with the representation of Luis Panchame. He taught me the ropes of advertisement in news media and got me a position that helped me become successful, landing a high status art job the very same day I graduated college. Mr. Robert Shelton and his family, have been a major support group for me as I moved to Dallas and started my professional career as a fine artist., Along with my group of friends both in Dallas and back at home in NYC. A huge part in my success in the fine art world is Mr. Tanner Lawley, owner of The Lawley Art Group fine art gallery on Dragon Street in Dallas. He has mentored me and helped me move up into the art fair world and build a professional name for myself. The highest shout out goes to my grandparents, who made sure I had an education and pursued a life using my talents. And my parents, who were both artists and influenced me growing up. I have the love and support of my peers which are too many to mention, but this shout out goes to those special few I mentioned above.

Website: www.raphealcrump.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/akrapheal
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rapheal-crump-350b2039/
Twitter: akraphealarts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akrapheal/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-4eULRVB6aX_xQFse1plw?view_as=subscriber